Brooke Henderson puts on charity event

When Brooke Henderson embraced Neil Doef on the putting green outside the clubhouse here Monday, it was much more than a hug between close friends.

The moment really represented what their down-but-never-out home town is all about, showcasing a deep sense of caring that exists in this community to 9,000 in the Ottawa Valley after many years of economic body blows.

Henderson, the teenage golf sensation, and her sister Brittany, a Symetra Tour pro, came back to their home Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club on Monday for a charity pro-am and a Canadian Women’s Tour event the next two days. Proceeds (in the neighbourhood of $15,000) will go to two causes — Lanark County Support Services (where Brooke and Brittany’s mother, Darlene, has worked for almost 35 years) and Doefstrong (the charity for Brooke’s good friend and longtime classmate Doef, who suffered a serious spinal cord injury during a junior A hockey game in November).

With a good crowd gathered around the green to watch Brooke, 17, receive her high-school diploma, Doef got up and — with the help of walking poles — made his way toward the golfer and fellow Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute students for a cherished snapshot.

Less than two weeks ago, Doef travelled to Cambridge, Ont., to watch Brooke play an LPGA Tour round.

“How exciting was that?” said Darlene Henderson, a wide smile forming as she talked about Doef. “It was special. It just does your heart good to see him there. We’re very happy.

“Neil’s a very close friend of Brooke’s. It’s just been a wonderful opportunity for Brooke to be able to give back her support. She’s been on road so much that she hasn’t been around here to do those visits and things the same as if she was still in school every day in Smiths Falls to visit him. It’s just one way she feels she can help out with his future. Whatever she can do, she wants to do.”

The same statement really holds true for the town as a whole. From 2007-2013, Smiths Falls lost 1,700 jobs with the closure of several major employers, including a Hershey plant. There were dark days.

“People told me it was going to be a ghost town during my term,” said Dennis Staples, the former mayor and the honorary chair for this tournament. “But nobody gives up here.”

Added Darlene: “We’re survivors for sure. There are a lot of good people here.”

While challenges certainly still exist, this is not a “ghost town.” There is a new high school, a new arena and a new water-treatment plant. And when it comes to generosity, many communities in better financial situations can’t come close to matching Smiths Falls.

Just look at the local sports scene. The Team Henderson 110% club helped raise funds to get Brooke and Brittany on tour for their rookie seasons as pros — which is a costly endeavour. And then there’s the support for Doef, whose family was able to purchase a new home to make it easier for Neil to move around. As Staples notes, people from across the country have come together for Doef — but it all started at home with the efforts of the Doefstrong group, the high school and the junior A hockey team, the Bears.

This week, 103 local sponsors signed up for this tournament.

“It was easy,” Staples said of trying to bring businesses on board. “When you mention it’s for the Henderson girls, people ask ‘What can we do to help out?’ ”

Yes, the Henderson sisters are plenty popular in these parts — the town sign says “Hometown of Brittany and Brooke Henderson” and the golf club has a wall with a sign saying “The Home of Brooke Henderson” along with several of her championship pictures. On her front nine yesterday, Brooke seemed to spend far more time giving out hugs than concentrating on her golf game.

When she missed a putt for her pro-am group on the opening hole, she actually said, “Sorry, guys.” Her amateur teammates just laughed — and Henderson paid them back with a long putt in the hole on No. 3.

Watching her play and interact with the gallery, you would have never known Brooke arrived home at 2 a.m., Sunday from her tie for fifth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (an LPGA major) near New York City. Brittany had even less sleep, getting back at 4 a.m. from a Symetra event before arriving at her home course for a 9:30 a.m. tee-off.

“I love seeing my family and friends and being at my home golf course,” Brooke said. “I haven’t played this course since last November, it’s been a little while. It’s in great shape and I love being able to come back and especially being able to spend some time at the cottage … Just to be able to relax and chill out for a little bit is nice.”

There were all sorts of reasons for Brooke to smile. Principal David Fisher came by to present her with her high-school diploma during a break in her round, several teachers took turns caddying for Henderson — and then there was the presence of Doef.

“He’s a very close friend of mine,” Henderson said. “He’s doing unbelievable things and it’s really amazing to see to watch his journey as it progresses.”

Doef, who followed Brooke in a cart for most of the round, enjoyed his day as well.

“We’ve grown up together and went to the same school since Grade 5,” he said. “We always watch her on TV and it’s amazing to watch her in real life because it’s just that much better. It’s definitely been really cool and I’m enjoying it a lot.”

Just like fellow Smiths Falls residents, who are finding themselves in front of the TV on many Sundays this year.

“It means so much,” said Smiths Falls Collegiate teacher Chantal Seguin. “They’re such an inspiration not only to the students, but to us as teachers. It just proves it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can accomplish anything. Everybody’s been inspired by them.”

HENDERSON LOOKS AHEAD

Brooke Henderson has two major goals for 2016.

“I definitely want to have status on the LPGA for next year and being able to compete for Canada at the Olympics would be a huge goal, something that is achievable if I keep doing what I’m doing,” Henderson said Monday at the charity pro-am she co-hosted with her sister Brittany at the Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club.

“I still want to work on different parts of my game, especially the mental side, and strengthening physically to get further off the tee. The last couple of years, I’ve worked really hard on my short game and I’ve definitely seen huge improvement, which is nice to see. I think if I continue to work hard and continue to figure out the flat-stick a little bit more, good things will happen.”

Henderson’s tie for fifth at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (an LPGA Tour major) on Sunday was her fifth top-15 showing in seven attempts on the top tour this year.

From the middle of her first round to the end of the competition, the 17-year-old stayed in the top five.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself over the last couple of weeks and the last couple of months, playing against the best in the world and being able to finish high in a couple of events,” said Henderson, who has no status on the LPGA Tour.

“It’s definitely a huge confidence-booster. I just have to stay patient, stay consistent and I think good things will happen to me down the road.”

With just more than $317,000 in earnings, Henderson would be 20th on the LPGA money list if she was a member.

She has to stay in the top 40 to get her card for next season, but only has two guaranteed starts left — Henderson also could get an exemption to the British Open (a major) and might try to Monday qualify for a few events.

But first there’s a Canadian Women’s Tour event here Tuesday and Wednesday.

She tees off on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. with Americans Michelle Piyapattra and Seul-Ki Park.